2019 Catalog

Including Oenothera, Omphalodes, Penstemon, Primula, & Persicaria

Catmint

Sometime around May a certain fragrance tells us that it’s time for sunny days and warm weather. It’s Nepeta! Catmint, as it is commonly called, is a free bloomer whose billowy mounds of blue-violet, lavender, pink or white &#64258;owers are as opulent as its aromatic foliage. Supposedly, this herb renders timid people &#64257;erce, and the botanist Tournefort tells of a hangman who couldn’t cut the mustard “until he chewed a little catmint root.” Have some Loosestrife around in case things get out of hand. Cut back in July for an encore in the fall.

David Salmon of High Country Gardens recently selected this long-blooming, tough-as-nails Catmint for its markedly blue flower spikes. Long, tapered gray-green leaves comprise a tidy, low growing mound that is covered with blossoms in late spring, and if trimmed back, bestows a second showing in late summer. Vigorous and drought tolerant, ‘Select Blue’ can be paired with another floriferous perennial, Erigeron ‘Bountiful’ to create a colorful union.

Awarded four stars in the Chicago Botanical Garden’s Nepeta Performance Trials, this exciting new Catmint broadcasts lively purplish red calyxes that can be enjoyed long after its blossoms have faded. The lush sage-green leaves create a vigorous understory for quantities of small, dark blue-violet tubes clustered on good-sized flower heads. Staged midborder, the colorful display spans several months and blends easily with Sedum ‘Hab Gray’, while riding on tall upright stems.

The stately bearing of this tall growing upright Nepeta caught our eye some 25 years ago at a small British nursery located near Great Dixter. Long sturdy panicles of whorled, densely massed rosy lilac flowers crown a lush textural foundation of broad, serrated pewter-green foliage and stout branched stems. Its pastel hues can be teamed with Centaurea macrocephala, Caryopteris incana and Crocosmia ‘Honey Angels’ for a pleasing foliar medley and late season flower-power.

Bathed in restful hues, this seldom-offered Nepeta fashions a softly colored, large mound of good-sized, serrated, gray-green leaves and tall, branching spikes embellished with densely set lilac flowers. Blooming for months, ‘Longipes’ creates a pleasing pastel medley in the company of Papaver spicatum and Euphorbia myrsinites.

Despite its name, this outstanding Kashmiri native will give you nothing to be nervous about. With an upright and bushy stance, N. nervosa features handsome, deep green foliage that’s veined and somewhat linear in shape, accompanied by large dense clusters of dark blue flowers. Plant at the base of Buddleja crispa, and enjoy the strikingly classic contrast of blue and silver.

A rather new introduction, Nepeta parnassica is tall growing. Attached to its brawny stems, sizable grayish green leafage lifts itself toward lush spikes of lilac-blue flowers and dark, wine-hued calyxes. This late bloomer’s height puts it midborder, where, backed by the concurrent blooms
of Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’, a late summer pleasure is yours for the viewing.

An upright Englishman standing taller and with less sprawl than N.x ‘Six Hills Giant’, ‘Pool Bank’s gray-green foliage gives way to tall branched spires decorated with bluish lavender blossoms, each nestled in a dusky mulberry-hued calyx. The tempered look of this Nepeta is effective for midborder drifts with Agastache ‘Firebird’ nearby.

A dogged constitution and compact good looks characterize this Plant Select offering. Flourishing in xeric conditions, the noteworthy ground hugging mound of well-branched stems and serrated dusty silver-green leaves gives way to deep lavender-colored flower spires nearly all season long. Nestle fine textured Little Trudy along a walkway, amid stairs, atop a wall or in the rock garden where she’ll make a composed companion for Oenothera ‘Fyrverkeri’. (PPAF)

‘Little Titch’ has such a small stature that even Nepeta ‘Superba’ is more upright. Its tightly packed ash-green leaves form a dense ground-level mass. Garnishing stem tips, small heads of rich blue-violet flowers faithfully unfurl until the end of summer. ‘Little Titch’ is delightful between rocks or right up front with Achillea ‘Hella Glashoff’ and Diascia ‘Coral Canyon’.

This low mounding Catmint has a clean-cut look that persists throughout the summer, making it excellent for the front of the border. Deep lavender-blue flowers, some of the most vividly colored of the Nepetas we offer, harmonize beautifully with the blooms of Penstemon ‘Sunburst Amethyst’ and Eryngium amethystinum.

Long after this species has bloomed you will remember its large, tubular, blue flowers highlighted by intensely aromatic, deep green foliage. With an upright form, ‘Souvenir d’ A. Chaudron’ makes a good companion for Origanum ‘Bristol Cross’ or Euphorbia rigida.

Both upright and billowy, this Nepeta is spectacular in drifts, sporting stems laden with lavender flowers. Its blossoms are held openly above its soft gray-green foliage. An old favorite here, ‘Six Hills Giant’ looks superb backed by Calamagrostis ‘Avalanche’, with its golden seed heads. Pink Geraniums are equally worthy companions.

A snowy divergence from the blue-violet hues typical of its family members, small white whorled flowers blanket a compact, soft-looking mound of serrated, gray-green leaves all summer. Well-suited for edging a path or border, Nepeta ‘Snowflake’ casts composed accents on neighbors like Origanum acutidens and Penstemon ‘Blue Midnight’.

Icy spikes of white-specked lavender-blue flowers to soothe the senses on a hot afternoon are what this new, highly touted Nepeta has to offer. Compact straight-up stems are densely shrouded in dark green serrated leaves, making a tidy aromatic base for the prolific summer long display. Partner with Eryngium ‘Blue Jackpot’ and blue-flowered Anchusa and enjoy the cool-colored vignette.

Named for Elizabeth Strangman’s British nursery where it originated, ‘Washfield’ is regarded as the best subsessilis cultivar currently available. Adored by butterflies and bees, well-endowed, erect branching spikes house vibrant clusters of blue-violet tubular flowers, opening from small buds shrouded in dark calyxes. The bushy clump-forming base yields scented green foliage, which offsets gray-leafed plants to great effect and obliges heavier soil more so than most Catmints.

Discovered in Argentina around 1898, this striking ornamental tobacco plant is a perennial in warmer climates and an annual in cooler areas. Large, slightly sticky, bright green oval leaves grow on tall, upright stems, topped with drooping clusters of pendulous, intensely fragrant, long tubular
flowers, which flare to five-pointed stars at the end. A dramatic presentation wherever it is planted, we show it off with Salvia ‘Purple Majesty’ and Euphorbia mellifera.

Evening Primrose

A lover of sunny sites, this large genus produces cup shaped, papery, long blooming flowers. Most Oenotheras are indigenous to North America, and are easily grown in well drained soil, even if it’s dry and lean.

In 1790, this notorious beauty made its way from Patagonia to England in the pockets of a ship’s surgeon. With flowers that are known for opening in perceptible movements at dusk, the Evening Primrose is a temptress that draws gardeners to her side as the sun goes down. The fragrant flowers, which begin as yellow, turn peach, and then shimmery coral-red, and the narrow, linear leaves, all crinkled and wavy-edged, make this plant a spectacular specimen in the rockery or in a more informal native setting.

Navelwort

A favorite of Marie Antoinette’s, these endearing forget-me-not–like flowers claim their name from the navel-shaped groove that marks each seed. Omphalodes are members of the Borage family, preferring moist soils but tolerant of dry conditions when grown in shade. They can take full sun where summers are temperate and need dappled light elsewhere. Slowly spreading by underground stems, let this lovely and leafy evergreen ground cover enhance the edge of the woods or a rock garden with spring bulbs and Ajuga not far away.

And you thought you had to travel all the way to France to enjoy a Parisian sky! Enchanting, just like the cultivar name suggests, this Omphalodes hosts a profusion of blooms in luminous bleu d’azur hues above a leafy base of foliage. Bring European appeal to your woodland trail and try
‘Parisian Skies’ en masse with Pulmonaria ‘Excalibur’ nearby.

This stellar old favorite displays plentiful airy sprays of fetching Mediterranean blue flowers defined by illuminated white eyes and five spaced round-edged petals, each one with a deep blue interior and a pink rim that eventually matures to white. The dainty bicolored blooms sparkle above long-petioled, dark green leaves shaping an attractive bushy hummock. Irresistible when massed, ‘Starry Eyes’ can enchant the rockery, a shady planting or the woodland garden. A member of the Borage family, Omphalodes prefers moist soil, but will tolerate dry conditions when grown in shade.

Oregano

The Greeks called this ancient herb oros ganos, meaning “joy of the mountain,” and legend has it that Aphrodite created the sweet spicy scent of its leaves as a symbol of happiness. A sun-loving genus hailing from the Mediterranean, Origanums display small, tubular, whorled flowers often arranged in showy overlapping bracts, and prefer sharp-draining soil.

Esteemed plantsman and Bluebird Nursery owner Harlan Hamernik selected this Origanum for its exceptional floral detail. Aromatic, glaucous green-gray leaves compile a shapely drought-resistant bed that unleashes large pendent sprays distinguished by layered chartreuse bracts and small, protruding vivid amethyst flowers. Delivering an unparalleled, several month showing, ‘Amethyst Falls’ can be staged in a container or an easily viewed site with a sunny southwestern exposure and quick-draining soil, while the extravagant quantities of rotund cone-like blooms can be left on to promote winter hardiness. (PPAF)

Assuming an air of refinement, the very slender blooms feature small, deep rose and chartreuse bracts that resemble decorative braids. Tipped with tiny purple flowers, the clustered bracts are held at nearly right angles to upright and reddish leafy stems. Grounded by medium green foliage, this long
lasting, delicate floral display casts earthy yet saturated hues in the border or an arrangement.

Decorated by small rose-pink flowers, droves of stacked, overlapping pale green and blush-colored bracts look like slender papery ornaments. Superb in dried bouquets, these large fanciful blooms hang from the tips of long, wiry, arching stems, loosely lined with smooth, nearly round, green leaves. A little more upright and more open than ‘Kent Beauty’, this captivating Origanum deserves a spot where it can be easily cherished.

Legions of compact Hop-styled dusky rose-colored bracts—festooned by tiny pink flowers and ideal for drying—reside at the ends of narrow pendulous stems. Exhibiting opposite, rounded green leaves and a form that is similar to Origanum ‘Santa Cruz’, but is smaller statured and not as spreading, this adorable Origanum comes to us from Oregon’s Goodwin Creek Gardens.

Antique-toned, dusty rose-colored, Hop-like flowers, much larger than those of ‘Ed Carmen’, are offset by bright green calyxes and pile up all summer on bran-ched red stems. For a pleasing fusion of color, try it with Penstemon ‘Blackbird’ and Muhlenbergia capillaris.

We collected this exceptionally floriferous form of vulgare at Ed Carmen’s nursery and named
it in his honor. Multitudes of deep pink blooms and striking, dark purple bracts are held atop sinuous, leafy flower stems some 2-½ ft. above the bluish green mound of basal foliage. To create a harmonious melding of purple and blue, let it sprawl beside a path with Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’, Euphorbia ‘Dean’s Hybrid’ and Aster ‘Bill’s Big Blue’.

Celebrated as one of our choicest natives, the deciduous Cinnamon Fern is steeped in grandeur and calls every state east of the Mississippi its home. Urbane vase-shaped clumps spotlight gracefully arching lacy bright green fronds plus an extraordinary central showing of erect fertile cinnamon-hued spikes. Known to be a tasty meal for ruffled grouse and nest material for hum- mingbirds, Osmunda cinnamomea favors moist shady sites, handles more sun in cooler locales and looks best en masse.

Poppy

Wielded by man since prehistoric times, Poppies have long been associated with sleep and oblivion, and after the First World War, the Flower of Forgetfulness ironically evolved into a symbol for remembrance. Generally defined by nodding buds, decorative seed heads and solitary fleeting flowers gracing long stems, these sun lovers appreciate a well-drained, somewhat dry position, winter chill, good air circulation and a hard cut after blooming. Plant in mass for best effect.

While the cultivar name is a classical musical term, referring to fast-paced or brisk movements, ‘Allegro’ equally arouses our senses with 4 to 6 in. silky, brilliant orange-red petals dancing around a textural cluster of dark purple stamens. Charcoal-hued basal smudges further enhance the large cup-shaped flowers that are shouldered on compact sturdy stalks clad in pinnately cut, serrated gray-green leaves. Incite a riot of color and plant this lavish Poppy near Dahlia ‘Bishop of Oxford’.

For the adventuresome gardener and not the faint-at-heart, this flamboyant beauty seduces us with her gorgeous oxblood red flowers. Marked by an ebony blotch at each base, the overlapping, crepe-paperlike petals gather around velvety jet black centers while lounging on tall sturdy stems. A restful counterpoint to the large hot-headed blooms, the bushy bluish green bed of pinnately lobed, toothed and hairy foliage requires a hard cut after blooming, winter chill, good air circulation and drainage, and a massed planting for best effect.

The successful outcome of Elinor de Konig’s Dutch breeding program, this relatively new Papaver proclaims 2 distinctive attributes: late summer repeat bloom and a more heat-resistant foundation. The huge rosy burgundy-hued flowers are described by voluptuous layers of dark ruffled petals plus raven-black button-like centers. Lounging on strong stems and blue-green leaves that don’t sulk when summer arrives, the upturned papery blooms can be combined with Monarda ‘Jacob Cline’ for a tantalizing duo.

Initially discovered as a chance seedling on the compost pile at Patricia Marrow’s Somerset nursery, this sensational Papaver is coveted for its huge, uniquely colored plum-wine flowers. The elegant 5 to 6 in. wide blooms showcase dark black splotches at the base of each papery petal and a blackberry-hued ring, which encompasses an ornate gold and maroon knobby boss. Splashing saturated color across the summer border or in a vase, the opulent display is supported by serrated grayish green leaves.

In a tribute to its name, the extravagant, deeply cupped flowers flaunt satiny white silken-thin petals waltzing around a plush purple-black brocaded center. All this floral finery dresses a bluish green pedestal of fuzzy fernlike leaves that grows weary during the summer but bounces back for a pleasing winter presence.

The English use the word “blowsy” to describe its billowy, cloudlike presence; we think
it apt. Quick to establish itself in well drained soils, this Poppy’s sheer, papery blossoms have
a soft, creamy apricot coloring. Prominent rounded buds, dentate leaves and the plentiful stand of flowering stems are heavily felted in gray. When planted with silvery Stachys, a soft pastel palette is achieved that welcomes the lilac hues of Nepeta ‘Longipes’.

This charming, New Zealand evergreen subshrub is ideal for intimate garden spaces, filling in and blending with many other types of plants. In early summer, the tidy fine textured mound of thin wine-colored branches and tiny, dark green glossy leaves is completely whitened by spires of delicate blossoms, each centered with a pink-ringed chartreuse eye.

This Korean native is long and slender, like a camel’s neck. Its basal mound of coarse green leaves gives way to thin, branching stems, which hold fragrant sprays of tiny, golden yellow flowers that are great for cutting. The leaves display reddish tints in autumn.

Beard Tongue

Among the most exuberantly blooming plants this side of the Mississippi, Penstemon are part of the enchantment of the West. A member of the Snapdragon family, even cultivated varieties retain a natural air, with dainty, long trumpet flowers and 5 (pent) prominent stamens. Stur­dy and easily cultivated, species usually range from 1 to 3 ft. tall, and vary in color from white to pink to purple to deep wine-red to blue—one for every sunny spot. Trim after the first bloom to encourage a repeat flowering, and cut to the crown in autumn for strong growth next season.

This vigorous, upright Penstemon will enhance your garden with slender, white-throated lavender flowers and unusually glossy foliage. A little taller than many of the Penstemons we offer, it’s best suited for the middle of the border. We like it with Agastache ‘Purple Haze’.

Standing head and shoulders above the rest of our Penstemon
offerings, this statuesque selection sends strong
straight stalks soaring to a height of 5 feet topped with
long blooming dusty purple flowers. The plump blossoms
are highlighted by lighter throats and are borne
in the leaf axils along impressive 10 in. bloom spikes,
while good-sized opposite foliage–apple green, triangular and somewhat sticky–boldly wraps the tall stems.
Drawn to this striking Penstemon some 20 years ago at
the U.C. Davis Arboretum, we still applaud its singular
beauty and stalwart drought tolerance.

Diminutive narrow glossy green leaves with serrated margins define a well-groomed mounding foundation that looks healthy all season beneath a color-rich display of plum-colored flowers. Opening broadly to reveal striking purple striped white throats, the generously produced 1 in. blooms may be a tad smaller than some Penstemon cultivars, but they reward you with continuous blossoms when cut back midsummer. ‘Ghent Purples’s shorter stature can enhance the front of a bed, top a retaining wall or edge a path.

This tidy turn-of-the century Penstemon has an array of cultivar names that range from ‘Swan Lake’ to ‘Snow Storm’ and ‘Snowflake’, all aptly conjuring the lovely droves of densely clustered white blooms. Distinguished by a bashful touch of pink on the petal backs and striking dark anthers, the pearly 1 in. flowers unfurl from creamy buds with pink-blushed tips. ‘White Bedder’s strong stems and slender shiny green leaves forge a sturdy upright habit that can take a seat among Salvia ‘Sensation Deep Rose’ and Sedum ‘Septemberglut’.

This Penstemon is turning a lot of heads. Rich, yet soft salmon pink flowers with white throats embellish commanding spikes all summer. ‘Hidcote Pink’ is an ideal midborder choice for blending the forms and colors of other plants. Back it with Buddleia crispa and front with
Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

A graceful Bruce Meyers selection, this cross originated between wild Mexican and American Penstemons. The flowers appear in droves with as many as 20 to 30 per stem, and are slightly smaller than the more common varieties. With rich violet-purple petals and a white throat, each bloom is a lovely point of color in our native garden.

One of our most cold-hardy Pentstemons, ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’ will also tolerate a wide range of soil moisture.

Another versatile Bruce Meyers selection, ‘Red Rocks’ forms the same pleasing vase shape as ‘Pike’s Peak Purple’, and like that cultivar, is nearly evergreen. The bright cherry-pink flowers are
white-throated and lend a cheerful look to our border well into fall.

A stalwart yet poised leafy base features sturdy stems and glistening slender green foliage that maintains a handsome presence throughout the season, and can be associated with Geranium ‘Orion’ and Helianthemum ‘St. Mary’s’.

Large tubular flowers in a burgundy so lavish and dark they redefine the word “velvety,” enhance this Penstemon. Deep green foliage, red-hued stems and a generous blooming season offer additional enticements, especially when planted with Campanula ‘Prichard’s Variety’ and Rudbeckia paniculata.

Lush, deep green foliage and rich burgundy stems create a perfect foil for some of the most sumptuous Penstemon flowers we’ve seen. The calyxes and buds are a wine color similar to the stem, and upon opening, each lively red bloom reveals a white throat with pale pink stripes. Intense scarlet and magenta hues, which appear to glow, highlight the flared tips.

The cultivar name for this Penstemon is deceptive. With deep green foliage, upright stalks that withstand wind and rain, and bright white tubular blooms, which look like they were dipped in raspberry jam, ‘Thorn’ is cheerful and vigorous. The rose-red blossom tip fades to a blush after the flower opens. Accent these color changes and take advantage of size by blending with Geranium x magnificum,Lavandula ‘Sawyers’ or Aster ‘October Skies’ in the middle or front of the border.

As if pursed for a kiss, this show-stealing Penstemon flaunts large, wide-mouthed white flowers with flared, bright purple lips. Not only BIG, but bountiful as well, the sassy blooms exhibit a snow-white throat and mauve tinges on the outside. ‘Violet Kissed’ is a Joy Creek Nursery introduction whose boldly colored pomp, lustrous foliage and tidy habit earn it a warm welcome in any garden bed.

Russian Sage

Hailing from southern Asia, east through Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran to China, Perovskia’s common name alludes to Vasily Perovsky, a Russian general who canvassed the region in the 1850s. This cold-hardy genus is singular for its myriad long-blooming flowers that galvanize hummingbirds, butterflies and bees plus its valiant character that braves deer, rabbits, cold weather as well as dry locales.

Plucked from a tray of ‘Blue Spire’ seedlings by British plant breeder, Peter Catt, ‘Lacey Blue’ is a superb long-lived selection that’s big on flowers and small in stature. Cherished by hummingbirds and fantastic in a vase, long blooming masses of uniquely large blue-purple flowers populate stiff upright spikes. Thickset frosted stems and finely dissected, gray-green leaves, emitting a spicy scent and sporting soft hairs with a subtle silvery sheen, define the compact short bushy mound.

Knotweed

Poor Persicaria! Certain weedy, invasive members of the genus have given the rest a bad name, and discouraged gardeners from getting to know these versatile performers. Our garden-worthy selections are happiest in semishade with ample moisture.

The deep green leaves of this graceful ground cover turn a rich brown during the winter and form a thick mat over a few seasons. The jointed, wine-red stems pick up the accents in the white and crimson flowers which are arranged, lavenderlike, along dense 2 to 3 in. terminal spikes held over a foot above the foliage. As the blooms mature, they darken to a crimson-rose shade, and finally end their days colored a rich rusty brown.

A leafy dwarf form of Persicaria amplexicaulis, this low growing cultivar has narrow foliage, crimson tapers and a refined appearance. It makes a perfect understory for late blooming Hydrangea ‘Unique’.

A mainstay for bridging the gap between summer and fall, this new Belgian introduction imparts vertical late season color over lusty foliage. Green spear-headed leaves compose a big bushy base that propels an irresistible flood of long-lasting, slim 4 in. tall, coral and scarlet-hued tails. Ensconce |lsquo;Orange Field|rsquo; in the mixed border, where its exhilarating shades either meld with Salvia confertiflora or bring a lift to white Hydrangeas, Phlox, Helianthus and blue-flowering Salvias.

With foliage that’s close to lime-green, and spiky floral tails that approach the scarlet spectrum of rosy pink, this slow spreading perennial is sure to please.

We brought ‘Summer Dance’ home from Piet Oudolf’s Dutch nursery and have come to appreciate its brighter, less rambunctious nature. Swaying to a late summer breeze, our stand lives up to its name while cheerfully commingling amid Anemone ‘Andrea Atkinson’ in the border.

Zesty rose-madder colors imbue the densely packed rotund tapers of this steadfast Blooms of Bressingham introduction. Perfect for arrangements and championed as richer and fuller than most Persicarias, the vivacious long-blooming flowers prance above a carefree mound of medium green triangular leaves. Intermingle ‘Taurus’ with Eupatorium purpureum, Aster ‘Blue Danube’ and Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’, and a pleasing late season medley is yours to enjoy. (pp#9682)

Copious crepe paper-like dark green leaves in curly festoons decorate the base of these showy and long-lasting 4 to 5 in. spikes of dense pale pink flowers. This Persicaria is perfect for cutting and admirable in the border with Digitalis ‘Snow Thimble’, while its clump-forming base can easily be divided every few years.

Darkly alluring, this sumptuous perennial has plenty of reason to be “big headed,” so we find the epithet microcephala a somewhat dubious observation. Each spring, deep red shoots emerge and lift themselves into a graceful arching form. Velvety leaves of a rich burgundy purple are dramatically marked with lance-shaped mint-green and silver chevrons, and later in the season are topped with delicate white flowers.

Visually arresting anywhere, plant ‘Red Dragon’ in a container or in the garden and let its gemlike elegance be set off by bright-leafed Spiraea ‘Magic Carpet’. It prefers moist soil, but can adapt to drier conditions.(PP# 12,062)

Jerusalem Sage

This genus belongs to the Mint family and includes about 100 perennials as well as subshrubs from the Mediterranean and western Asia. Drought-resistant and hardy, many of the species will thrive in warm sunny sites and dry woodland edges. Ornamental whorls of purple, pink or yellow blooms open in the summer, providing long-lasting dry stems and flower clusters for decoration in the garden or kitchen.

These bright yellow flowers bloom in a series of ball-like clusters known as verticillasters along stout stems and above felted, gray-green foliage. Used as a specimen or blended with Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ or Wood Oats, Phlomis fruticosa will provide bold color and form.

The small tubers growing from its roots inspired its name and make this Phlomis perhaps the most unusual of all. Fleecy petioles plus large green foliage with toothed margins give the plant a coarse texture that is enhanced by dusty lilac blossoms, nestled in reddish calyxes, and deep crimson-tinged flower stalks. Such distinctive character makes good company for grasses and Lavenders.

Discovered by the astute folks from North Creek Nursery at a plant sale in London Grove, PA, this handsome shade-happy ground cover is a light blue flowering form of the eastern North American woodland Phlox. The sweetly fragrant 5-petaled blooms are held in loose clusters that lure the butterflies and hummingbirds, while widely spaced lance-shaped green foliage forms an attractive spreading compact clump, coloring fall days with burgundy shades. Appreciative of fertile, adequately moist, free draining abodes, ‘London Grove Blue’ mingles well with Aquilegia ‘Kristall’, Tiarella ‘Dark Star’ and Geranium phaeum ‘Album’.

This reliable hard working beauty parades massive ambrosial trusses hoisted by a compact bushy pedestal of well-branched sturdy stems and tailored green leaves that look lush all the way to the ground. The stylish, broad nearly 1 ft. tall blooms unfurl in light blue hues, mature with dazzling deep blue-violet shades and develop reddish purple margins as they age, while their stunning colors appear either more blue or more purple depending upon the light.

Back in 1987, F. M. Mooberry of The Brandywine Conservancy spotted this outstanding, chance Phlox paniculata seedling and named it after her husband. A quintessential summertime border plant, ‘David’ is highly prized for his lustrous mildew-resistant greenery and huge, long-blooming fragrant flowers. Shapely triangular panicles illuminated in classic white stand some 6 to 9 in. tall, and nearly as wide, on erect stems with narrow, bristle-edged dark green leaves that are arranged in pairs.

New Zealand Flax

This upright moderately sized Flax sprouts sword-shaped blades the color of milk chocolate and bears the name of the late, acclaimed plantsman and nursery owner who brought it back from New Zealand. Heightened by delicate pink and cream margins, a channeled midrib and smoky olive green undersides, the scrumptious foliage is somewhat lax toward the tips, which either gracefully fall outward or arch downward.

A handsome more diminutive character amid a family of mostly massive relatives, we’re surmising this Phormium’s “could eat no fat” stature inspired its nursery rhyme name. Mr. J. Burton of Hamilton, New Zealand selected little Jack for his tidy, fan-shaped evergreen clumps of twisting, ½ in. wide bronzed blades that first emerge olive-green then transmute to a reddish mocha color.

With year-round good looks, he is as stalwart as he is versatile, tolerating dry conditions, yet detesting heavy soils or being planted too deep. ‘Jack Spratt’ can be showcased in a small container, along a path or en masse superimposed against gray-leafed Stachys ‘Helen Von Stein’.

Cape Fuchsia

Birds simply love the lazy clusters of long, nodding, tubular flowers that cover Phygelius all summer long. Gardeners, too, will love this fast growing subshrub from South Africa, because no matter what the cultivar, the Cape Fuchsia adds a luscious, colorful look to any garden.

A member of the Snapdragon family, Phygelius grow in well drained garden soil, and are evergreen in milder climates. Handsome, glossy, deep green foliage adorns rich maroon stems, and the stunning Penstemon-like flowers range from pale yellow to vibrant red.

For all those who take the time to peer inside these dusky salmon-pink pendants, an enticing surprise awaits you. The flared petals reveal a brilliant sunburst of yellow rimmed with cherry-red. Lifted on rubescent stems above lustrous, verdant leaves, the closely arranged blooms can be juxtaposed against Teucrium fruticans’ (Select Form) gray foliage and periwinkle-blue flowers.

A remarkable foliage plant with a soft and alluring look, ‘Longwood Silver’ is equally suited to the border or a container, quickly developing felted silvery leaves that become greenish gray and more textured as they mature. Thick, fuzzy purple-hued stems seem to glow and match the color of the branching lilac-hued flower spikes.

With decoratively toothed margins and prominent veins, thick rounded green foliage flaunts sumptuous dark reddish purple flipsides, while the same rich hue suffuses the succulent stems, long leaf petioles and midribs. The stunning foliar contrast is reason enough to plant this south African beauty, but the delightful late season showing of speckled dark lilac flowers on long spires makes it indispensable.

Flourishing in moist, humus-rich niches, Podophyllum’s vigorous fleshy rhizomes form a substantial colony. Every part of Podophyllum is toxic except the ripened “apples,” although recent studies indicate the entire plant contains promising medicinal properties including anticancer and other healing compounds.

Heralding spring, this captivating woodland native of Asia Minor, the Himalayas and central China pushes a glossy green, folded umbrellalike leaf up through the soil at the top of each stem. A few weeks later, the deeply lobed, 10 in. wide foliage fully opens, described by black, purple and brown mottling, and a lone white-to-rose blossom. The pyramidal bud remains closed on cloudy days and unfurls delicate, translucent petals into a cup-shaped flower when it’s sunny. The extraordinary show continues as glistening, egg-sized, scarlet-red fruit forms in late summer, suspended from the leaf axils on short stems.

Podophyllum hexandrum’s fleshy roots take a couple years to establish, but eventually form a substantial colony.

Named after King Polemon of Pontus, this genus is distinguished by fernlike foliage with nearly 20 neatly arranged leaflets, believed in Roman times to symbolize the ladder that spanned heaven and earth in Jacob’s dream.

Asserting a dark mystique, this recently introduced Polemonium cultivar is heralded for the reddish purple and bronze tones of its lush leaves. Deep-hued stems frame the lacy upright base, which transmutes a green flush when summer arrives or when grown in deep shade, and appreciates a somewhat cool, moist setting. Large silken blooms—loosely clustered, cup-shaped and plentiful—compose a violet grace note.

Hailing from the lower slopes of the Himalayas, this strong perennial is named for its vibrant saucer-shaped blood red flowers borne on widely branching leafy stems. The neatly toothed long-petioled silver-gray foliage sports silky hairs on the upper surface and a white tomentose below. Well-suited for a front or midborder location, Potentilla atrosanguinea’s good-looking bearing performs best in cool summer areas and tolerates dry conditions once established.

Don’t be surprised if you too fall under the spell of this undemanding, hearty perennial named for its sumptuously colored flowers and powerful presence. Lobed, strawberry-like, dark green foliage shapes a tidy clump beneath deep raspberry-red blooms with rich-as-velvet, ruby-black centers and bright white stamens.

Said to be useful in medicine and magic, the sun-loving Cinquefoil likes well drained soil and partial shade in hotter climates, obliges both cold and drought, and can be nestled into the rockery or atop a garden wall alongside Erysimum ‘Wenlock Beauty’.

Hailing from the lower slopes of the Himalayas, this strong perennial is named for its vibrant saucer-shaped blood red flowers borne on widely branching leafy stems. The neatly toothed long-petioled silver-gray foliage sports silky hairs on the upper surface and a white tomentose below. Well-suited for a front or midborder location, Potentilla atrosanguinea’s good-looking bearing performs best in cool summer areas and tolerates dry conditions once established.

Don’t be surprised if you too fall under the spell of this undemanding, hearty perennial named for its sumptuously colored flowers and powerful presence. Lobed, strawberry-like, dark green foliage shapes a tidy clump beneath deep raspberry-red blooms with rich-as-velvet, ruby-black centers and bright white stamens.

Said to be useful in medicine and magic, the sun-loving Cinquefoil likes well drained soil and partial shade in hotter climates, obliges both cold and drought, and can be nestled into the rockery or atop a garden wall alongside Erysimum ‘Wenlock Beauty’.

Primrose

Derived from the Italian primaverola, the name of this genus pays homage to the way its often early blossoms welcome spring. Many of the more than 400 species are at home in the moist climates of England, New Zealand and the Pacific Coast. The selections we offer are cold-hardy, yet will need ample water in warmer locales. Lovely planted en masse, Primroses are ideal for woodland gardens, damp borders, by a pond or streamside.

Native to the coniferous forests of Tibet and southwestern China, Primula capitata was once used
to cure headaches and please the palette in thick soups and rice. This species is named for its blue-violet, pincushionlike flowers that open face down in early spring.

We plant it by paths or steps in shady rock gardens so that we can sit and look at the silvery powder on the green stems. It can take full sun, but only if planted in a moist loam or boggy location.

If a fairy majorette was out to beat the band, she’d be carrying the charming orbs of this Primula as her baton. Formed from plentiful, dark blue and yellow-eyed, funnel-shaped florets, the dense 2 in. globes rest on stout stems above a textured leafy base. A winner for the shady border, plant a drift of this long-lived selection with Athyrium ‘Regal Red’ behind.

This long-lived, robust native of shady Tibetan bogs boasts some of the largest flowers in the family. From a mound of serrated green leaves, older mature plants display as many as 80 citron-colored blooms per umbel on tall stems, creating a virtual festival of fragrance.

The pyramidal, Kniphoﬁa-like ﬂowers of this highly unusual Primula are bicolored, with purple at the base and reddish fuchsia at the apex. Perched on 15 in. stalks above oblong, blunt-tipped green basal foliage, the fanciful blooms provide perfumed accents either in large drifts or surrounded by Aruncus aethusifolius and Epimedium ‘Purple Pixie’.

Lungwort

One of the earliest plants to bloom, you can be picking Lungwort’s urn-shaped flowers in February while the rest of the garden still slumbers. Easy-to-grow Pulmonarias prefer the lacy light of a woodland setting and cool moist soil. They are excellent noninvasive ground covers.

Here’s one type of frost that should be welcomed into gardens with open arms. The mildew resistant foliage of this compact species has a green midrib and is irregularly splashed with so much silver that there is often more silver than apple green. Such “frost” complements the
soft rose-colored flowers, which fade to violet-blue. The Maple-like foliage of Kirengeshoma palmata makes it an interesting neighbor for ‘Apple Frost’.

The lush foliage of ‘Benediction’, with its widely spaced silver spots, ranks above that of other dark green-leafed Pulmonarias. A favorite for massing, we especially enjoy the profusion of deep blue flowers when planted next to Epimedium x rubrum and Euphorbia ‘Great Dixter’.

The raspberry-pink flower of this species is a new color for Pulmonarias. Against the sparkling, mostly silver leaves with slightly ruffled, mottled green margins, the flowers are as enticing as a bowl of fresh berries and cream. Plant in large drifts and watch the flowers—and your garden—turn purple with age.

Spotted by highly regarded British plant maven Bob Brown and named in honor of his wife, this robust P. longifolia hybrid is hailed as one of the best silver-leafed Pulmonaria for hot locales. Dashing, long pointed leaves are initially rimmed with a stippled pewter and green border, which quickly morphs into solid sterling silver. A classy early spring charmer, ‘Diana Clare’s well-tailored clump cushions plentiful, perky dark violet blooms, aging to cobalt-blue on short sturdy stalks.

With a metallic effulgence that’s reminiscent of mercury, this Pulmonaria is a refined inspiration for the darker corners of your garden. Its lance-shaped leaves are completely frosted in silver except for a pencil-thin, deep green edge. Impressively mildew resistant, ‘Excalibur’s striking foliage is graced by charming rosy pink and blue flowers long before spring’s treasure trove of bloom gets underway. (pp#8958).

With foliage that’s more diminutive than other Pulmonarias, this compact Lungwort can easily squeeze into an intimate space. While the deep cobalt blue of the flowers fades to a softer purple, the distinct silver spots of the narrow leaves remain intense and dazzling. We let ‘Little Star’ skirt the ground beneath the gilded foliage of Clematis ‘Stolwijk Gold’ for a dramatic foliar contrast.

This marvelous subspecies from the Cevennes region of France will perk up any shady spot with its slender, silver mottled leaves that are spear-shaped and distinctively large, reaching up to 2 ft. in length. Wider than most longifolia species, good-sized cobalt blue flowers fade to violet atop a mounding, highly mildew resistant base.

A beloved older cultivar named for a noted British
plantsman, this boldly marked Pulmonaria boasts a
dashing mound of steel splotched, long narrow dark
green leaves and clustered bright cobalt blue blooms.
Its distinctive good looks, abundant full-toned flowers
and easily maintained habit earned 'Bertram Anderson' a
perfect score at the Chicago Botanic Garden's Pulmonaria
Trails and should give you plenty of reason to
welcome him into your favorite shady nook.

Solidly sheened with silver, ‘Majesté’s thick leafage is extremely elegant—even without any flowers. But in early spring, short arching sprays of both blue and pink blooms make an appearance and, against the leaves, it’s a color-rich delight. Omphalodes ‘Cherry Ingram’s greenery offers a vivid contrast.

This prized Pulmonaria’s periwinkle blue flowers stand 6 to 8 proud inches above handsome, evenly silver-blotched foliage. Broad, Hosta-like green leaves are slightly rough to the touch. It works well as a ground cover in a shaded rock garden and blooms for an exceptionally long time.

A friend in Montana tells his wife every night that what she’s cooking for dinner is his favorite, and he means it. We’re like that with Pulmonarias. This one is our favorite too—for its flower. It’s the truest, the showiest, the brightest blue, and the earliest to bloom. Large, richly green foliage is dappled in swank grays and silvers.

Pristine, soft white flowers crown mercury-dappled and freckled deep green leaves that are broader than other saccharata species. Resembling ‘Roy Davidson’ in terms of spotted foliage, this Pulmonaria is more open, bearing its flowers more loosely and later in the spring.

A winning Terra Nova introduction between Pulmonaria longifolia ‘Bertram Anderson’ and Pulmonaria vallarsae ‘Margery Fish’, this energetic Pulmonaria serves generous portions of clustered, large royal-blue flowers. The princely deer and mildew-resistant mound is defined by lance-shaped green foliage peppered with plentiful silver spots. Exhibiting good heat and humidity tolerance, ‘Trevi Fountain’ is a superb choice for Southern gardens as well as other woodland settings throughout the country. (pp#13,047)

Current Staff's Favorite Plant

Colorful Crocosmias, Be Awed by your August garden, Saturday Strolls!

Colorful Crocosmias!

Crocosmias pack a punch of late summer color as our gardens transition into autumn. Their clustered tubular flowers populate the ends of gracefully arching spikes, which emerge from handsome sword-like foliage. Ranging from yellow, peach and orange to fiery red, their prismatic shades look exceptional with white flowering perennials such as Phlox ‘David’, Selinum wallichianum and Aster ‘Bridal Veil’, as well as the blue blossoms of Aconitum, Agapanthus ‘Storm Cloud’ or Aster ‘Twilight’. For fun you could create a hot border, blending them with Kniphofia, Helenium, Salvia and even other Crocosmia, plus be sure to include some in your next bouquet. Commonly referred to as Montbretia and hardy to Zone 6, they appreciate, good drainage, adequate water and some shade in scorching summer sun. Please feel free to check out our extensive collection of Crocosmia cultivars in the perennial section of our online catalog.

YES, it’s possible to be in awe of your late August garden….

At this point in the season, some areas in our gardens may appear a tad worn or lackluster. If you haven’t already done so, you may wish to cut back a few tired looking perennials, such as the Nepetas or Geraniums, so you can enjoy a fresh flourish of growth plus more blooms. Adequate moisture and an additional application of compost will also ensure late summer vigor. Incorporating plants that provide a bounty of flowers and alluring leaves in August and September helps buoy our spirits, and hopefully even inspire a little awe as we approach fall. Though the plants featured in this newsletter either promote a bold statement or possess more refined aspects, they equally caught my eye and made me pause to take a closer look. Perhaps they’ll spark a wondrous moment for you as well. All of us Digging Dog plant wranglers wish you Happy Digging!